Apple AirPods Max vs SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite
Which one should you buy?
Who leads where?
- BatterySteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite
- WearingSteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite
Wins are counted from the official values in the table below; the BUY / CONSIDER / WAIT call comes from each product's own decision box. We do not predict prices.
 AppleApple AirPods MaxNo reviews yet |  SteelSeriesSteelSeries Arctis Nova EliteNo reviews yet | |
|---|---|---|
| Audio | ||
| Driver size | No data | 40 mm |
| Driver type | Apple-designed dynamic driver | Carbon fibre driver |
| Frequency response | No data | 10-40000 Hz |
| Impedance | No data | 38 Ohm |
| Sensitivity | No data | 101 dBSPL @ 1kHz/1mW |
| Noise cancelling | ||
| Active noise cancelling | Yes | Yes |
| Ambient sound mode | Yes | Yes |
| Spatial Audio | Personalised Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking | 360 Spatial Sound |
| Connectivity | ||
| Bluetooth | No data | 5.3 |
| 2.4 GHz wireless | No data | 2.4 GHz |
| Battery | ||
| Battery Life (hours) | 20 | 30 |
| Battery Life Mode | Noise cancelling on | Per battery |
| Fast Charging Claim | 5 minutes of charge gives around 1.5 hours of listening | 15 minutes of charge for up to 4 hours of play |
| Wearing | ||
| Weight | 386.2 g | 380 g |
SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite leads on 2 of 2 compared specs.
This table is based on manufacturers official specifications. Winning on paper does not always mean a difference in everyday use.